11014: Is it true that women’s ‘awrah in front of other women is from the navel to the knees?

We have heard that the ‘awrah of a woman in front of other women is from the navel to the knees. Is this correct? Especially since in banquet halls we see women who come – may Allaah keep us safe and sound – wearing short or see-through clothes, or garments with cut-away designs which show her calves, or they wear light and filmy garments, or things that leave a part of the chest or back uncovered… So Muslim women come out and they look like dancers in the kaafir countries or improperly-dressed actresses on the screen. If we tell them not to do that, they say, There is nothing wrong with that; women’s ‘awrah is from the navel to the knee. Modesty has disappeared and women are becoming argumentative and imitating the kuffaar, and the problem has reached overwhelming proportions. Please advise us, may Allaah reward you.

Praise be to Allaah.

All of a woman is ‘awrah in front of non-mahram men,
and it is not permissible for her to appear before men even if she is
covered, if there is there is the fear of fitnah (temptation) because of
looking at her and seeing how tall she is and how she walks. Concerning
what was said about a woman’s ‘awrah in front of other women being
from the navel to the knee, this applies only when she is in her house
among her sisters and the women of her household. The basic principle is
still that she should cover all of her body lest she be taken as an
example and this evil practice become widespread among women. Similarly,
she must also cover her charms in front of her mahrams and strange women
lest some of her mahrams be tempted by her or lest some of the women
describe her to others. It was reported in the hadeeth that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No woman should
describe another woman to her husband so that it is as if he can see
her.” What this means is that if her charms, such as her chest, her
shoulders, her stomach, her back, her arms, her neck and her calves,
become visible, whoever sees that will inevitably have an impression of
her, and usually women talk about what they have seen to their families,
male and female alike. So a woman may mention that in front of non-mahram
men [i.e., men who are not mahrams of the woman being described] in a
manner that may provoke them to pursue her, or which may cause bad people
to form an attachment to her. For this reason, women have to cover their
charms – such as their chests, backs, arms, calves, etc., - even in
front of mahrams and other women. This covering becomes even more
essential in parties, leisure facilities, hospitals and schools, even if
there are only women present, because some non-mahram men and adolescent
boys may see them or take pictures of them naked which will be a cause of
temptation to those who see them. A stern warning has been issued to those
who make a wanton display of themselves and wear see-through or tight
clothing, when the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said:

“There are two kinds of the people of Hell … women who are clothed yet naked, walking with an enticing gait with something on their heads looking like the humps of camels, leaning to one side. They will not enter Paradise or even smell its fragrance.” What this means is that they are wearing see-through or tight clothes which show the size of their frame, or there are openings cut in the fabric which show their chests, breasts and other charms. This is widespread in parties and in general gatherings. And Allaah knows best.